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You mention you're a first time buyer so possibly fairly young in years. Have you checked out boring things like insurance first?
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I’ve just turned 21 and i checked an insurance quote for 3k but looking to pay monthly for my finance. Although this was without adding anyone to my insurance so i will try that next after if i decide to buy it or not. Thanks for your reply
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I don’t really understand any of it, i thought buying from a dealer instead of private would be better in terms of fixing any issues etc,?
I checked the vehicle history and it’s passed each time does this mean anything?
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I don’t really understand any of it, i thought buying from a dealer instead of private would be better in terms of fixing any issues etc,? I checked the vehicle history and it’s passed each time does this mean anything?
Falkirk Bairn's comment above is wise advice, the cars he mentions could well be cheaper to insure, cheaper to maintain and be more reliable as they would be newer.
If your wife wants an Audi, explain to her that the badge on it does not mean it is better engineered than a plain Golf, or has she a good reason for her wish?
There are examples on this forum (mostly in the 'legal' section) of people's struggle to get dealers to rectify faults, so not a guaranteed fix for problems.
Edited by galileo on 05/06/2022 at 11:39
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With a car this old it is best to buy on condition rather than price. A dealer has probably bought the Audi as a part exchange and will have may be £2k profit in it, If it were me I would lower my budget and look for a private sale and keep money in reserve for running expenses. Look on Autotrader within a reasonable distance from home. Do not discount cars that have been written off as CAT D or N these can be sensible buys and are usually price some 25% less than non cat cars. The A1 has not got a lot of room in the back and a small boot for a growing family. It might be better to think of something a bit bigger. You did well searching the MOT history and check the service history. On an old car service history is not that vital as long as it has had regular oil changes. There are plenty of cars out there and you would be wise to take someone with you who knows a bit about cars. As said above do not place too much faith in dealers especially those selling cheaper cars
I tip for your insurance, it can be cheaper if you add say Mum or dad to the policy and shop around with the comparison sites your quote of £3k is frightening
Edited by sammy1 on 05/06/2022 at 12:18
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If this is to be the only car in the family it’s very small to be considered for accommodating a newborn. The tiniest babies generate a lot of luggage these days and the A1 is sized much the same as it’s VW Polo cousin. If you can fit a push chair in the boot I would be surprised.
I would look for a medium sized car such as an Octavia, Golf, Civic, Astra hatchback or, ideally an estate. An estate from the size below might also give enough space (e.g. Ibiza, Rapid). One problem may be the lack of image but it may be better to have a practical car than worry too much about it’s style. Having said that I still find the 2012 onwards Civic Hatch reasonably attractive while having a boot to equal many medium estates. Although smaller, the Suzuki Vitara offers reasonable space with the small SUV style.
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Thanks mate. It will be 1 of 2 cars in the family. Wanting to just use this for outings and quick drives, i’ll be considering a golf too based off your reply. Thanks for help
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Thanks pal. What would be a reasonable price for my insurance considering I passed in December and I turned 21 in march?
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Thanks for your reply mate.
She prefers the interior and likes the sporty look.
And thanks i’ll definitely have a look through that sector now
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What you want and what you need are 2 different things . With a new born in tow you need space and keep it simple. Astra or Focus are good choices. Seems crazy to me to spend nearly half a cars value on insurance. Does sporty come into the equation when you’ve got a crying baby in your arms ?
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Please don't buy an A1 as a first car with a new born. It's much too small and you're paying way over the odds for a badge. I gave a six and half year old and we got a Honda FR-V when he was born. I wouldn't recommend you do the same (they're old and costly to run now), but it was enormous inside, extremely practical and still felt too small.
I reckon a Skoda Rapid Spaceback would be ideal. They're not bad looking, especially with the panoramic roof.
If you can find a good one, and must have an Audi, a Seat Exeo estate is an Audi A4 in disguise. I think you would be wasting money on that too though.
We considered a Ford B-Max, and that might for you too if you really want something smaller. It has sliding rear doors with no pillars, so easy access. Likewise, the Vauxhall Meriva had rear-hinged back doors.
You are just beginning one of the most stressful and expensive periods of your life and I would really advise you not to start it with an expensive and impractical car. I get it, but I am only now starting to think about nice interiors and sporty image at this stage. For now, you want cheap, reliable, practical and comfortable.
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Please don't buy an A1 as a first car with a new born. It's much too small and you're paying way over the odds for a badge. I gave a six and half year old and we got a Honda FR-V when he was born. I wouldn't recommend you do the same (they're old and costly to run now), but it was enormous inside, extremely practical and still felt too small.
I reckon a Skoda Rapid Spaceback would be ideal. They're not bad looking, especially with the panoramic roof.
If you can find a good one, and must have an Audi, a Seat Exeo estate is an Audi A4 in disguise. I think you would be wasting money on that too though.
We considered a Ford B-Max, and that might for you too if you really want something smaller. It has sliding rear doors with no pillars, so easy access. Likewise, the Vauxhall Meriva had rear-hinged back doors.
You are just beginning one of the most stressful and expensive periods of your life and I would really advise you not to start it with an expensive and impractical car. I get it, but I am only now starting to think about nice interiors and sporty image at this stage. For now, you want cheap, reliable, practical and comfortable.
A1 isn’t a bad car, but it is over priced compared to rivals based on nothing more than the plastic badge on the bonnet.
Ignore the badge and buy a Toyota petrol Auris
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I’m looking for something thats quite spacious as i have a newborn would you still recommend those? My wife is wanting the audi as it’s something she’s wanted for quite some time now and we’ve finally seen one available on the AA website.
Despite these requirements, you were drawn to an A1?
Like davey says, it isn't a bad car, but it certainly isn't spacious for that size category of car.
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A while back I started a thread on here regarding buying a new A1
The conclusion we came to was there is nothing to justify the higher price of the A1 over the VW polo, seat Ibiza or Skoda Fabia (all essentially the same vehicle).
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No mate, essentially my wife really wants one so was just getting advice on here about how they are. Will be buying another as baby gets older, only looking to have this one for a couple years as it’s affordable before we sell.
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OK. So, if you're just planning to buy an A1, £7,500 seems about right. That age and mileage seem to be around £7k-£8k.
At that mileage, things will have needed to be repaired and it's essential that the service history is complete so check the service stamps are all there and see where they're from (franchise or independent and location). Ask the dealer about the car and what they know about it. Ideally, you want one they know a bit about, may have sold before etc. If this isn't an Audi franchise, I would be very wary of any car where they couldn't tell me all about it - plenty of dealers just buy cars at auction and know nothing at all about them.
Walk around the car, check for any obvious damage, make sure the tyres are good and in matching pairs. Check the oil and coolant levels, start from cold and listen to the engine. Go for a proper test drive with various road conditions and listen for any mechanical sounds like whining, thumping or vibrations. If anything feels wrong, run away.
I don't know who this dealer is, but it sounds like they're an independent. Not necessarily anything wrong with that, but I would only buy from an independent that had been around a long time and had a good reputation with people I trust (not reviews). Buying from a franchise is your safest best, but expensive. Next best, I think, is from the classifieds within a specialist forum - most sellers are enthusiasts and you can check their previous posts for any major issues. My next best bet would a be a private seller who has owned the car for years and has a load of history for it. Then independent dealer, then private seller who is actually a dealer pretending that they're not.
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Thanks for your reply pal. I’ll be sure to do all of these. Will try to find someone to take with me who knows abit more about them too it’s just schedules never line up. You’re right in the idea that it’s a private dealership, I saw the car on the AA website so i should have warranty from them but i’ve also heard good things about the dealership.
I was looking to go privately as they’re a little cheaper, but my brother was against this and very wary as i could get ripped off from the bat. Also independently looking, all the ones i’ve seen are very far out. The ones on auto trader are mostly 3drs but i’m looking for 5 for more practicality
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The ones on auto trader are mostly 3drs but i’m looking for 5 for more practicality
Bear in mind the rear side doors on a 5 door A1 are pretty small, so getting a little 'un into a child seat could be tricky!
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And a buggy, pram plus other bits and pieces will take up lashings of space.
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